Govt examining improvements in PAN system

New Delhi, July 28 (UNI) The Income Tax Department is examining the possibility of using biometric features in the PAN system to ensure security of the number and its uniqueness in relation to a person.

In a written reply to the Lok Sabha today, Minister of State for Finance S S Palanimanickam said the government has not carried out any survey into the growing number of PAN card holders.

He said the growth in the number of PAN card holders was due to various factors, including compulsory quoting of PAN in all statements and returns filed by all income tax returns filers, in all challans for payment of direct taxes, in specified high value transactions and its use in as a Common Business Number (CBIS) by other government departments such as Customs and Central Excise, Service Tax, Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

Mr Palanimanickam said recently SEBI has also mandated use of PAN for demat accounts.

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